Darius Rucker to headline Musikfest festival in Bethlehem

November 29, 2012|By John J. Moser, Of The Morning Call

A singer who topped the pop charts in the 1990s with a band that had one of the biggest-selling albums of all time, then conquered the country charts in the 2000s has been announced as the first headliner act for the 30th anniversary edition of downtown Bethlehem's Musikfest festival.

Darius Rucker, who was front man for roots rockers Hootie and the Blowfish and who in 2009 became the first black performer to win the Country Music Association's New Artist of the Year Award, will headline the festival Aug. 9, it was just announced.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Dec. 18 to ArtsQuest members and 10 a.m. Dec. 21 to the public at http://www.artsquest.org and 610-332-1300.

Musikfest will run Aug. 2-11.

With Hootie and The Blowfish, Rucker had four Top 15 hits from its 1994 debuted disc, "Cracked Rear View," including "Hold My Hand," "Let Her Cry" and "Only Wanna Be With You." The album sold 16 million copies and hit No. 1.

As a solo artist, Rucker's debut platinum, No. 1 country album "Learn to Live" from 2008 had three consecutive No. 1 songs: "Don't Think I Don't Think About It," "Alright" and "It Won't Be Like This for Long."

He released another solos disc, "Charleston, SC 1966" in October that also went to No. 1 and has achieved gold record status and had another No. 1 hit with "Come Back Song."

Rucker is scheduled to release a new album, "True Believers" on Jan. 22.

Rucker sold out the 1,350-seat Easton State Theater in November 2009, then again in January. He also played the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre in January.